Nnegest Likké is an American

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

and producer from Oakland. Born in the

Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Association of Bay Area Governments ...

and raised in

Oakland Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...

and

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, she is the daughter of an African-American Civil Rights Activists and an Ethiopian freedom fighter. Most of her work explores themes of cross-cultural relationships between Americans and Africans, and she is a pioneer of the blended-culture genre. Specializing in comedy, romance, drama and travel adventure, Nnegest Likké's films are thought-provoking impact-films that examine complex issues in society and culture. Her film awards include Best Diaspora Film at the 2016

Africa Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards is an annual entertainment award ceremony presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osig ...

(AMAA) for " Ben and Ara " which she directed. Her 2019 international romantic drama, ''Everything But A Man'' won the Audience Choice Award at the Pan African Film Festival. Nnegest is one of the first women of color to write and direct a movie distributed by a major Hollywood studio. Her directing credits include Fox Searchlight's romantic-comedy ''

Phat Girlz ''Phat Girlz'' is a 2006 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nnegest Likké and starring Mo'Nique, as well as Kendra C. Johnson, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Godfrey, and Joyful Drake. Plot Jazmin Biltmore is a smart-mouthed, plus-si ...

'', the multi-award-winning indie love drama '' Ben & Ara'', and ''Everything But A Man''.

Early life and education

Nnegest Likké was born in Oakland, California. She is half African-American and half Ethiopian and grew up in the

. During her childhood, Likké had the opportunity of traveling around the world, including throughout Europe and Africa with her mother who Likké referred to as an active globetrotter and Civil Rights Activist. This traveling exposed her to various ways of life besides those known in America. Likké attended Skyline High School in

. After graduating, she attended

Clark Atlanta University Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded on September19, 1865, as Atlanta University, it was the first HBCU in the South ...

(CAU), where she studied film and graduated with a BA in Mass Communications.

Career

After college, Likké moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

to pursue screenwriting. While honing her craft, Likké taught Drama, History and English at a high school in Los Angeles. Today, she still mentors at-risk youth.

Films

'' (2006) was Likké's first feature film, starring Academy Award Winner

Mo’Nique Monique Angela Hicks (née Imes; born December 11, 1967), known mononymously as Mo'Nique, is an American comedian and actress. She debuted as a member of The Queens of Comedy and earned recognition as a stand-up comedian. In 2002, she receive ...

. This film is a romantic-comedy about two plus-size women who meet the men of their dreams in an unexpected way. Her second film was '' Ben & Ara'', followed by her most recent film ''Everything But a Man'' starring

Monica Calhoun Monica Calhoun (born July 29, 1971) is an American film and television actress. Calhoun is best known for her roles in the films '' Bagdad Cafe'' (1987), '' The Players Club'' (1998), '' The Salon'' (2005), '' The Best Man'' (1999), and its sequ ...

and

Jimmy Jean-Louis Jimmy Jean-Louis (born August 8, 1968) is a Haitian actor and producer. Born in Pétion-Ville, he moved to Paris at a young age with his family in search of a better life. His early roles were in French television commercials and Spanish musical ...

(2019 ). Likké wrote, directed and produced ''Everything But a Man'', about the challenges successful, career-driven women have finding love. Likké is currently working on multiple projects for film and TV.

Filmography

Awards, nominations and honours

* In 2015, Likké received an honorary mention for Best Feature Film at the All Lights India International Film Festival. * In 2016, Likké received the Best Female Protagonist award for her film '' Ben & Ara'' at the Nevada Women's Film Festival. * In 2016, ''Ben and Ara'' won the award for Best Diaspora film by the

(AMAA).

References

External links

*
Ben and AraNnegest Likké
{{DEFAULTSORT:Likke, Nnegest 1970 births Film producers from California Clark Atlanta University alumni American people of Ethiopian descent American women film directors Writers from Oakland, California Living people Film directors from California American women film producers 21st-century American women